Chuck Ragan returns with new folk sound
The music scene in Gainesville has changed a lot since Chuck Ragan and Hot Water Music held sway in the 1990s. Out of the ashes of punk rock came a host of genres that would eventually make Gainesville a musical melting pot including indie rock, electronica, hip-hop and, of course, country and folk, probably the second biggest genre our town has to offer. It's funny that upon Ragan's return to the town where his music career started, he's just as prominent a figure, but in a different musical world.
Since Hot Water Music disbanded in 2006, Ragan has put nearly all of his focus into folk music, transforming from an energetic, hard rocker into a formidable troubadour, a veritable 180-degree turn. Luckily for Ragan, his lyricism and raspy voice never changed from one endeavor to the other. He's just as creative as ever and just as captivating too, but now his listeners are more eager to hear his next love-lorn folk story rather than his next riff. He's been quite prolific, releasing albums in 2007, 2008 (with Austin Lucas) and in 2009, including a full-length release called "Gold Country," along with a handful of live recordings.
This weekend, he'll return to Gainesville to play with some of our town's most notable folk and acoustic musicians, those that embody and compliment the second stage of Ragan's career. For the first time, an artist is taking residency at the Atlantic for a weekend. There aren't a lot of artists who come through and play double-headers, but considering Ragan's rapport with Gainesville and the musicians who've been selected to play around him, back-to-back nights don't seem like overkill.
Friday night's show will feature Ragan as the headliner along with Whiskey and Co. and Coffee Project. Coffee Project recently released its full-length album, "Moved On," at Flaco's Cuban Bakery earlier this summer, and the album includes collaborations from such Gainesville musicians as Michael Claytor on banjo, Kim Helm of Whiskey and Co. on vocals, and Jon Gaunt, who plays fiddle with Chuck Ragan. The trend seems to be moving toward communal collaboration as many bands in the past year have released albums featuring guest appearances from local musicians. Clearly, there are ties between all the acts in this show as well, so be prepared for lots of great music and camaraderie.
For Saturday night's show, The Takers and Greenland is Melting will be joining Ragan. Listeners will get to sample another solo set from Ragan as well as some of Gainesville's best honky-tonk style country and bluegrass.
Greenland is Melting is literally everywhere these days, playing almost constantly. I can't say enough about the way the band has progressed in the last two years. And their relentless work ethic is paying dividends.
In the last year they've released a full-length record, been signed to Paper and Plastick Records, opened for Frank Turner, toured the Southeast and now are opening for Ragan. This band deserves success. So give them a pat on the back, and, if you get a chance, check out their live show; it's a foot-stompin' good time.
Contact Dante Lima at lima.dante@gmail.com.